Erik Dilan Announces for Congress

After increasingly likelysigns that he would be challenging veteran Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Councilman Erik Dilan officially moved his campaign forward today, telling The Brooklyn Paper he’s firmly in the race. Michael Olmeda, a political operative close to the campaign, confirmed to The Politicker that Mr. Dilan is indeed running and will have a formal announcement event soon.

Mr. Dilan, a close ally of Brooklyn Democratic Chair Vito Lopez, will undoubtedly have the county establishment’s support in the race. With Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries’ campaign against Congressman Ed Towns, Mr. Lopez is now actively backing two campaigns against sitting Democratic Representatives this election cycle.

“The time is right for change,” Mr. Dilan told The Brooklyn Paper “We’ve had an incumbent who has been there for 20 years and she’s done little with the post. She’s going to have to justify after 20 years of nothing, why she should remain in office.”

Mr. Dilan undoubtedly has been paying attention to the redistricting process, as Ms. Velázquez’s district became slightly more favorable to Mr. Dilan’s challenge in the recently released court-drawn map. Notably, her seat absorbed Hasidic Williamsburg where the largest sect is allied with Mr. Lopez.